UPDATED 06.27 a.m. PT: The UK’s Wireless Festival has been canceled over the Kanye West saga.
“‘As a result of the Home Office banning Ye from entering the United Kingdom, Wireless Festival has been forced to cancel,” a statement from the fest read. “All ticket holders will receive an automatic full refund.”
West, who now goes by Ye, was due to headline Wireless in July but earlier today was blocked from entering the UK by the government over his previous antisemitic hate speech. He was last year denied a visa to enter Australia.
Sponsors including Pepsi and Diageo have pulled out of Wireless since the news broke last week but today’s Wireless statement added that “multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.”
“Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had,” added the statement. “As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.”
UPDATED 05.42 a.m. PT: Kanye West has been blocked from traveling to the UK for a festival headline slot.
West has been refused permission for an Electronic Travel Authorisation visa due to his presence not being conducive to the public good, the Home Office told BBC News. He was last year denied a visa to enter Australia.
West is due to headline London’s Wireless Festival in July. His headline slot has sparked outrage among Jewish groups, reaching the upper echelons of UK government.
PREVIOUS: A Kanye West festival appearance is causing chaos in the UK.
The controversial singer, who has been lambasted for months for antisemitic outbursts at a time of heightened tension, has this morning said he “would be grateful” to meet members of the Jewish community as he brings a message of “change, unity, peace, and love through my music.”
He is due to headline London’s Wireless Festival in a few months’ time, which has caused outrage, leading to a backlash from Jewish groups and working its way up to the UK Prime Minister’s office. Keir Starmer yesterday said he finds the prospect of West headlining the festival “deeply concerning,” as the government reviews if West should be allowed to enter the UK. He was last year denied a Visa to enter Australia after the release of his song “Heil Hitler,” which was condemned and banned on multiple platforms.
West, who now goes by Ye, this morning said he had been “following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly.”
“My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music,” he added. “I know words aren’t enough – I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”
Melvin Benn, who runs Wireless organizer Festival Republic, has defended the decision, encouraging people to offer “forgiveness.” Sponsors including Pepsi and Diageo withdrew sponsorship of the fest yesterday.
In January, Ye took out an ad in The Wall Street Journal to plead for forgiveness after his antisemitic rampage in 2025. Ye said he suffered a “four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life.” During that period, Ye sold $20 shirts with swastikas and made numerous antisemitic posts including declaring himself to be a Nazi.
Last week, Ye performed a sold-out comeback show in L.A., which drew high-profile support and plenty backlash.